Charles Manson associate Bruce Davis to seek parole

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Charles Manson follower Bruce Davis is serving two life sentences for the slayings of musician Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald "Shorty" Shea.

Story highlights

Bruce Davis, 72, is serving a life sentence for two murders in 1969

His prior successes in winning parole in 2010, 2012, 2014 were all reversed by CA governors

Debra Tate will ask the parole board to deny parole for Davis

(CNN)Charles Manson associate Bruce Davis, serving a life sentence for two murders, will seek his fourth positive recommendation for parole in five years at a hearing Thursday.

Davis, 72, had won three recommendations for release from the California parole board every time he appeared before the panel since 2010, but all three decisions were later reversed by California governors.

In spite of the reversals, Davis' past successes in winning a parole recommendation have prompted a representative for murder victim Gary Hinman's family to attend Thursday's parole hearing.

Debra Tate, whose sister Sharon Tate was a murder victim by Manson followers, said she will oppose any parole for Davis.

"On Thursday morning, it is our job to remind the parole commissioners exactly how heinous the two crimes that Bruce Davis committed were," said Debra Tate, a representative for Hinman's family. "It is my very firm belief that this man continues to pose a grave threat to society."

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Photos:Manson Family murders

Photos:Manson Family murders

It has been more than four decades since the murder of Sharon Tate and four others at the Los Angeles home of Tate and her husband, director Roman Polanski. The murders led to the arrest and trial of Charles Manson along with his followers, who physically committed the crimes.

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Photos:Manson Family murders

Polanski and Tate at their wedding in January 1968. Tate was eight months pregnant at the time of her death.

Polanski, who was out of town at the time of the murders, is seen on the porch outside his home, the remnants of the word "pig" can be seen where it was scrawled on the door.

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Photos:Manson Family murders

On the night of August 10, three of Manson's followers killed supermarket executive Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, at their home (pictured). This time Manson accompanied his followers to select the victims, but again did not take part in the killing.

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Photos:Manson Family murders

Manson and his followers were arrested at this remote location, called Barker Ranch, on suspicion of auto theft. Police did not immediately connect them to the murders.

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Photos:Manson Family murders

A break in the case came when Susan Atkins, already in jail, told a fellow inmate about the Tate murders. "Because we wanted to do a crime that would shock the world, that the world would have to stand up and take notice," she said.

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Photos:Manson Family murders

Manson, along with five followers, is indicted on December 8, 1969, for the murders.

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Photos:Manson Family murders

From left, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten walk to court to appear for their roles in the murders.

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Photos:Manson Family murders

Manson is escorted to his arraignment on conspiracy-murder charges related to the murders.

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Manson appears with an "X" cut into his forehead when the trial starts on June 16, 1970. It was said to symbolize being crossed out of society. He later altered the scar to become a swastika.

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Photos:Manson Family murders

After a seven-month trial, all the defendants were found guilty on January 25, 1971. Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten received the death penalty.

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Photos:Manson Family murders

Manson is led, head shaved and beardless, to hear his sentence on March 29, 1971. He received the death penalty as well.

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Photos:Manson Family murders

Charles "Tex" Watson was tried separately, after fleeing to Texas and fighting extradition to California. He was convicted and also sentenced to death in 1971. All the sentences were commuted to life in prison when California abolished the death penalty in 1972.

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Photos:Manson Family murders

Manson is seen in court in 1986, during a parole hearing. He was denied for the sixth time.

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Manson was denied parole for the 12th time on April 12, 2012. According to the California Parole Board, he has accrued 108 serious disciplinary violations in prison since 1971 and has shown no remorse for the murders.

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Davis was sent to state prison on April 21, 1972, for the first-degree murders of Hinman, a musician, and stuntman Donald "Shorty" Shea in 1969.

In 2010, 2012 and 2014, the parole board granted Davis parole.

In the second case, the board explained it made such a recommendation because of Davis' "positive adjustment, record of no recent disciplinary problems, and for successfully completing academic and vocational education and self-help programs."

But current Gov. Jerry Brown reversed the 2012 and 2014 decisions, said Luis Patino, a spokesman for the California Department of Corrections. Then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reversed the 2010 recommendation, Patino said.

Photos:Charles Manson: The infamous inmate

Photos:Charles Manson: The infamous inmate

This image of infamous inmate Charles Manson was issued in August 2017. Manson, the cult leader whose followers committed heinous murders almost a half century ago, died Sunday, November 19, of natural causes, according to the California Department of Corrections. He was 83.

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Photos:Charles Manson: The infamous inmate

This image of Manson was taken in 2011. He served nine life terms in California prisons and was denied parole 12 times.

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Photos:Charles Manson: The infamous inmate

In this 2009 prison photo, Manson is seen without his trademark long hair.

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Photos:Charles Manson: The infamous inmate

Manson is seen slightly disheveled in this 2006 prison photo.

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Photos:Charles Manson: The infamous inmate

Manson is pictured in a prison photo from 2002.

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Photos:Charles Manson: The infamous inmate

Manson in a 1996 prison photo.

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Photos:Charles Manson: The infamous inmate

Manson smirks at the camera in this 1978 photo.

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Photos:Charles Manson: The infamous inmate

In this 1970 photo, Manson is seen with a swastika tattoo on his forehead.

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Photos:Charles Manson: The infamous inmate

This 1969 mugshot shows Manson soon after the murder of actress Sharon Tate.

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If Davis is successful this time, he would become the first Manson "family" member to be freed solely for good behavior.

Thursday's hearing will be held at the California Men's Colony, where Davis is imprisoned, in San Luis Obispo, Patino said.

The Manson group's gruesome killings inspired the best-selling book "Helter Skelter" and made their ringleader Manson a cult figure.